The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-09-08


ways the most trying to soldier, and
we were no exception. We were near
ly all novices in the art OF war, never
having smelled more powder than we
would from fire crackers on the fourth
of July. About 10 O'Clock the Indians
appeared in the distance and began
firing ut long range. Then it was
that the idea struck us that some
earthworks would be good thing to
have to fight behind. a breaking
team was procured and Il couple of
burrows turned preparatory to throw
ing up earthworks, but about that
time Indians bullets began to drop
among us. Then we concluded to
adopt Shakespeare tactics and discard
uardees. Every man in the front
rank made u move to get in tho rear
rank, and when that WAS accomplish
ed the same thing was repeated I'M
I'll we were soon making for town on
nearly double quick. There is u RI
diculous side 10 everything. and our
retreat was no exception. One OF our
comrades, C. NJ, being Il West Point
graduate, man highly endowed by
nature put woefully spoiled by whis-
key, scornel to turn his back on an
Indian and stepped out and III com
manding military voice, began giving
commands with a view to make us
| stand and face tho enemy, but his ef-
forts were unava;ling and with look
of mingled contempt,pity and SORROW,
his last command WAS Ego TO HI
d-n you" and Joined the retreating
crowd, but he WAS one OF i few that
made stand behind the wind mill,
the first shelter we met, and stood
| their ground until one Of them WAS
shot and the rest narrowly escaped
| capture. When We got to town our
| forces were concentrated in the cen
| ter OF the town behind every available
| shelter. The Indians followed us and
| took possession of the scattering
| buildings on the outskirts of the town
and there we remained exchanging
| compliments until darkness hid rs
| from each other. We did not feel
very victorious about that time; the
Indians. had closed up on us consider
ably during the day. A violent south
east wind was blowing all day and the
| Indians took advantage of it to burn
what buildings they occupied and adj
yanced behind the smoke. We spent
night Of terror and anxiety not
knowing what the morrow would
bring forth. Every moving object
was taken for an Indian; a man could
not move a rod out Of his track all
night without o dozen muskets being
| pointed at him. and if he did not yell
"white man" his life was not worth
much.
But to our great relief when morn.
| ing came the Indians did not renew
| the battle and before noon large re-
enforcement arrived from st. Peter
under Captain Cox, which probably
accounted for the indians withdraw
ing. They carried off their dead and
wounded so there can be no estimate
made Of their loss. Our loss according
TO E. D. Meals history Of the Min
nesota Valley was ten. When we
found we had no more fighting to do
the next thing was what to do with
| New Ulm, 50 it was decided to eyac.
uate and take New Ulm with us.
Without loss of time all the available
conyeyances were prepared and the
woman and children, and few days
rations were loaded on and We took
UP our march for Mankato, and left
| New Ulm to the Indians pro TEN. So
ended our New Ulm campaign.
ONE WHO WAS THERE.